Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali: No rift with Fernando Alonso

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Updated 10:42 AM ET, Thu August 29, 2013

Stefano Domenicali has been team principal at Ferrari since 2008.

Story highlights

Stefano Domenicali denies a rift with Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso

Ferrari team principal Domenicali also rejects claims he is not up to the task

Alonso is second in the drivers' standings, 46 points behind Sebastian Vettel

Domenicali would not be drawn on Ferrari's rumored interest in Kimi Raikkonen

Ferrari team principal Stefano Demenicali has rejected suggestions a power struggle between him and driver Fernando Alonso is the reason behind the Italian team's faltering Formula One season.

Alonso, a two-time world champion, picked up two grands prix wins in the first five races of the season, but he has struggled to match the blistering pace set by Red Bull's three-time drivers' champion Sebastian Vettel.

Lotus hopeful on Raikkonen

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"It is a super-competitive environment where you are a hero when you win and a zero when you lose -- there is not really something in between for us. Be sure that we are united to win -- because that's what we are here for."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has not been shy in expressing his dissatisfaction with the team.

Red Bull in the big city – New Jersey was originally scheduled to stage Formula One's inaugural Grand Prix of America in June 2013, and Red Bull took its RB7 car over to the state of New York one year early to test drive the streets.

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Red Bull Racing takes on New York6 photos

Going off road – Former F1 driver David Coulthard was behind the wheel for the 2012 visit, causing a stir as he sped through Liberty State Park.

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Red Bull Racing takes on New York6 photos

Tunnel vision – Last-minutes checks were made before the RB7 sped through the Lincoln Tunnel, which connects Weehawken, New Jersey and Manhattan.

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Red Bull Racing takes on New York6 photos

The beast below – While the Hudson River flowed above, Coulthard tore through the tunnel below at speeds of up to 190 miles per hour.

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Red Bull Racing takes on New York6 photos

Lady Liberty – Coulthard burns rubber, while the Statue of Liberty can be seen poking through the thick cloud of smoke.

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Red Bull Racing takes on New York6 photos

Free-wheeling in Weehawken – The grand prix, which will not be held in 2014 either due to funding problems, was supposed to run through the New Jersey township of Weehawken.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars 10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Pastor Maldonado took the new Williams for a spin at Barcelona on February 19 following the launch at Circuit de Catalunya.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – The new Infiniti Red Bull Racing RB9 was launched at the Austrian-owned Formula One team's English headquarters in Milton Keynes on February 3.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Mark Webber, left, and triple world champion Sebastian Vettel pose with the Red Bull they will be driving this year.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Title rivals Ferrari launched the new F138 which they hope will power Fernando Alonso to glory in 2013.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – British team McLaren unveiled its car on January 31. New driver Sergio Perez (right) poses with 2009 world champion Jenson Button and the new MP4-28.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Former McLaren star Lewis Hamilton, left, and new teammate Nico Rosberg pose with the new Mercedes W04 on February 4.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Sauber's new C32 was launched in Switzerland on February 2. It will be driven by Perez's replacement Esteban Gutierrez and Nico Hulkenberg, who left Force India in 2012.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Force India's Paul Di Resta with the new VJM06 which was launched on February 1 at Silverstone. His new teammate had yet to be named.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Charles Pic and Dutch rookie Giedo van der Garde launched Caterham's new CT03 car on the first day of preseason testing at Circuito de Jerez on February 5.

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F1 teams unveil 2013 cars10 photos

F1 teams unveil 2013 cars – Romain Grosjean was third-fastest on the opening day in Jerez for Lotus, which was the first team to launch its new car -- the E21 -- on January 28.

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Domenicali was also coy on rumors Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen could be in line for a return to the team he won the world championship with in 2007 -- Ferrari's last drivers' title.

"Kimi is a very fast driver and everybody knows how I rate him. But if I make a comment now it will be taken as a direct answer.

"As I said, there is no rush and we will make the right decision in the right moment."

Meanwhile David Ward has announced he intends to stand in the FIA's presidential elections later this year.

Ward has resigned from his post as director general of world motorsport's governing body's charitable foundation to run for the post currently held by former Ferrari chief Jean Todt.

"After much careful thought I have decided to stand," Ward said in a statement. "The election period begins in September and it will be necessary for me to approach FIA members to secure nominations.

"In these circumstances I think that the correct course of action is to resign.

"Election processes inevitably involve robust and lively debate, and whilst the foundation is independent and there is no legal requirement for me to resign, I believe that it is in the best interests of the charity that I stand down now."

Frenchman Todt, who has been president of the FIA since 2009, has yet to announce whether or not he intends to run for reelection.